a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第39章
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
city a few years since； he stepped with an agile briskness； he examined the
halter； destined for his neck； with an impartial curiosity。
His last pleasantry was uttered as he ascended the table。 ‘George；' he
muttered； ‘you are first in hand；' and thereafter he took farewell of his
friends。 Only one word of petulance escaped his lips： when the halters
were found too short； his contempt for slovenly workmanship urged him
to protest； and to demand a punishment for the executioner。 Again
ascending the table； he assured himself against further mishap by
arranging the rope with his own hands。 Thus he was turned off in a
brilliant assembly。 The Provost and Magistrates； in respect for his
dandyism； were resplendent in their robes of office； and though the crowd
of spectators rivalled that which paid a tardy honour to Jonathan Wild； no
one was hurt save the customary policeman。 Such was the dignified end
of a ‘double life。' And the duplicity is the stranger； because the real
Deacon was not Brodie the Cracksman； but Brodie the Gentleman。 So
lightly did he esteem life that he tossed it from him in a careless impulse。
So little did he fear death that； ‘What is hanging？' he asked。 ‘A leap in
the dark。'
II CHARLES PEACE
CHARLES PEACE； after the habit of his kind； was born of
scrupulously honest parents。 The son of a religious file…maker； he owed
to his father not only his singular piety but his love of edged tools。 As he
never encountered an iron bar whose scission baffled him； so there never
was a fire…eating Methodist to whose ministrations he would not turn a
repentant ear。 After a handy portico and a rich booty he loved nothing so
well as a soul… stirring discourse。 Not even his precious fiddle occupied a
larger space in his heart than that devotion which the ignorant have termed
hypocrisy。 Wherefore his career was no less suitable to his ambition than
his inglorious end。 For he lived the king of housebreakers； and he died a
warning to all evildoers； with a prayer of intercession trembling upon his
lips。
The hero's boyhood is wrapped in obscurity。 It is certain that no
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glittering precocity brought disappointment to his maturer years； and he
was already nineteen when he achieved his first imprisonment。 Even
then 'twas a sorry offence； which merited no more than a month； so that he
returned to freedom and his fiddle with his character unbesmirched。
Serious as ever in pious exercises； he gained a scanty living as strolling
musician。 There was never a tavern in Sheffield where the twang of his
violin was unheard； and the skill wherewith he extorted music from a
single string earned him the style and title of the modern Paganini。 But
such an employ was too mean for his pride； and he soon got to work
againthis time with a better success。 The mansions of Sheffield were
his early prey； and a rich plunder rewarded his intrepidity。 The design
was as masterly as its accomplishment。 The grand style is already
discernible。 The houses were broken in quietude and good order。 None
saw the opened window； none heard the step upon the stair； in truth； the
victim's loss was his first intelligence。
But when the booty was in the robber's own safe keeping； the
empiricism of his method was revealed。 As yet he knew no secret and
efficient fence to shield him from detection； as yet he had not learnt that
the complete burglar works alone。 This time he knew two accomplices
women both； and one his own sister！ A paltry pair of boots was the clue
of discovery； and a goodly stretch was the proper reward of a clumsy
indiscretion。 So for twenty years he wavered between the crowbar and
the prison house； now perfecting a brilliant scheme； now captured through
recklessness or drink。 Once when a mistake at Manchester sent him to
the Hulks； he owned his failure was the fruit of brandy； and after his wont
delivered （from the dock） a little homily upon the benefit of sobriety。
Meanwhile his art was growing to perfection。 He had at last
discovered that a burglary demands as diligent a forethought as a
campaign； he had learnt that no great work is achieved by a multitude of
minds。 Before his boat carried off a goodly parcel of silk from
Nottingham； he was known to the neighbourhood as an enthusiastic and
skilful angler。 One day he dangled his line； the next he sat peacefully at
the same employ； and none suspected that the mild mannered fisherman
had under the cloud of night despatched a costly parcel to London。 Even
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the years of imprisonment were not ill…spent。 Peace was still preparing
the great achievement of his life； and he framed from solitary reflection as
well as from his colleagues in crime many an ingenious theory afterwards
fearlessly translated into practice。 And when at last he escaped the
slavery of the gaol； picture… framing was the pursuit which covered the
sterner business of his life。 His depredation involved him in no suspicion；
his changing features rendered recognition impossible。 When the
exercise of his trade compelled him to shoot a policeman at Whalley
Range； another was sentenced for the crime； and had he not encountered
Mrs。 Dyson； who knows but he might have practised his art in prosperous
obscurity until claimed by a coward's death？ But a stormy love…passage
with Mrs。 Dyson led to the unworthy killing of the woman's husbanda
crime unnecessary and in no sense consonant to the burglar's craft； and
Charles Peace was an outlaw； with a reward set upon his head。
And now came a period of true splendour。 Like Fielding； like
Cervantes； like Sterne； Peace reserved his veritable masterpiece for the
certainty of middlelife。 His last two years were nothing less than a march
of triumph。 If you remember his constant danger； you will realise the
grandeur of the scheme。 From the moment that Peace left Bannercross
with Dyson's blood upon his hands； he was a hunted man。 His capture
was worth five hundred pounds； his features were familiar to a hundred
hungry detectives。 Had he been less than a man of genius； he might have
taken an unavailing refuge in flight or concealment。 But； content with no
safety unattended by affluence； he devised a surer plan： he became a
householder。 Now； a semi…detached villa is an impregnable stronghold。
Respectability oozes from the dusky mortar of its bricks； and escapes in
clouds of smoke from its soot…grimed chimneys。 No policeman ever
detects a desperate ruffian in a demure black…coated gentleman who day
after day turns an iron gate upon its rusty hinge。 And thus； wrapt in a
cloak of suburban piety； Peace waged a pitiless and effective war upon his
neighbours。
He pillaged Blackheath； Greenwich； Peckham； and many another
home of honest worth； with a noiselessness and a precision that were the
envy of the whole family。 The unknown and intrepid burglar was a terror
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to all the clerkdom of the City； and though he was as secret and secluded
as Peace； the two heroes were never identified。 At the time of his true
eminence he ‘resided' in Evelina Road； Peckham； and none was more
sensible than he how well the address became his provincial refinement。
There he installed himself with his wife and Mrs。 Thompson。 His
drawing… room suite was the envy of the neighbourhood； his pony…trap
proclaimed him a man of substance； his gentle manners won the respect of
all Peckham。 Hither he would invite his friends to such entertainments as
the suburb expected。 His musical evenings were recorded in the loca
